This document printed from the University of Illinois Extension McLean County at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/
Opportunities in the 4-H Program
Oh, the places you'll go…in McLean County 4-H
4-H Learn and Fun Day
This workshop day is designed for 4-H members ages 8 years old and up to enjoy a Saturday or fun, learning and new skills. The 4-H Show Committee helps plan and organizes "hands-on" workshops for a variety of project areas. Older 4-H members are encouraged to teach or assist with workshops to build their leadership experience. This event annually is held on the last Saturday in January.
4-H Technology Academy
The 4-Her will gain an understanding of basic DC electricity and electrical circuits, magnetism, wiring and wire sizes, AC electricity and equipment, house wiring, motors, electronics, robotics, solar & wind power and computer programming. This event is planned by volunteers and staff every other year.
4-H Club Officer Training
Club officers or youth interested in holding a club office are invited to attend a 4-H club officer training school. Club officers are introduced to club officer duties, tips on how to run a good meeting, new recreation ideas and parliamentary procedure. Federation contacts community leaders to lead breakout sessions for individual club offices.
4-H Leadership Design Team
McLean County 4-H Leadership Design Team purpose is to provide older club members with a wider area of activity, with the result that they will have added opportunities to make friendships, to develop leadership, to improve citizenship and to increase interest in 4-H work in the county.
4-H Jr. Federation
Jr. Federation is for 4-H members between the ages of 10 and 14. The group meets quarterly and practices teamwork and leadership skills. They also assist with county programs. They conduct one community service project each year and host the 4-H Skating party.
4-H Royalty
4-H members that participate in 4-H Royalty are nominated by the 4-H club. Youth nominated participate in a preliminary contest involving review of 4-H club work, leadership, and community service and participates in three personal interviews. The top 5 females and males are selected to participate on the 4-H Royalty Court. These top 10 youth participate in a Royalty Dinner, held prior to the fair, to meet with the finals judges – no scoring takes place. During the McLean County Fair participants compete in the Royalty Contest – a queen and king and 1st runner-ups are selected. The royalty court serves as ambassadors the rest of the week during the fair visiting shows, passing out ribbons, and helping with promotion of 4-H and the fair. The 4-H Queen has the option to participate in the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Queen Contest held in January.
4-H Crops
The 4-H Crops program is a 4-H family activity funded by seed company donations that offers seed for small corn/soybean plots to 4-Hers of any age. Besides the plot opportunity 4-Hers can attend educational activities, bus tours and compete for special prizes awarded at a November banquet.
Livestock and Dairy Judging Teams
The 4-H Livestock judging activity involves participation in the county 4-H contest held in June each year. Winners will represent McLean County at the State 4-H Contest. 4-Hers who want to participate in additional activities throughout the year can sign up to work with the livestock judging team coaches to practice and judge at a variety of contests throughout the year. The Dairy Judging contest is held annually in June in McLean County. Winners will represent our county at the State Contest in June.
Hippology
Hippology includes horse judging, a written test and station identification. It is an individual competition in which members identify everything horse related from parts of a saddle, breeds, parts of the horse, face and leg markings, bits, muscles, skeleton and confirmation. Tests include biology questions and horse judging. Age categories are: Junior 8-11, Intermediate 12-14, and Senior 15-18.
Horse Bowl
Horse Bowl is like a scholastic bowl in high school and is a team competition. Questions are created from sources provided by Dr. Kevin Kline from the University of Illinois. Age categories are Junior -14 and under, Senior -14 and over.
Other Judging Teams
There are other judging opportunities, including electricity skill-a-thons, horticulture, meats, forestry, and poultry contests.
Fair Tour Guides
4-H youth are invited to help showcase the McLean County 4-H Show to child care and after school agencies by providing tours to groups during the county fair. Tour Guides participate in an orientation and are provided a script for fair tours.
Fair Volunteer Opportunities
All 4-H members are encouraged to volunteer during the McLean County 4-H Show to serve as judges assistants, help with the county milkshake booth, participate as a fair tour guide, help with the Young At Heart activities…just to name a few!
Share the Fun
4-H members and clubs can enter a rehearsed act or participate in an impromptu act, the topic would be chosen at check-in the evening of competition. The main goal for clubs participating in Share the Fun is to HAVE FUN!
Oh, the places you'll go in 4-H…Regionally
4-H Memorial Camp
All youth ages 8-16 years old are invited to participate in a week-long experience. Counties are assigned camping weeks throughout the months of June and July. Youth are encouraged to attend during their county week, but can attend another week offered. Registration materials are available in March from the Extension office. 4-H Camp is located in Allerton Park in Monticello, IL. http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hmemorialcamp/
Camp Counselors/Summer Program Staff
Each year 4-H members are hired to work at 4-H Memorial Camp as camp counselors and to coordinate program areas such as Waterfront, Arts and Crafts, Outdoor Education, and Recreation. Other staff hired includes Lead Female Counselor, Head Male Counselor, and Assistant Director and Camp Nurse.
Fish Camp
This fun filled weekend event is packed with fishing action and instructional workshops for the beginning or intermediate-fishing enthusiast at 4-H Memorial Camp. Participants will learn how to catch bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish in the 16 acre fishing paradise. Campers will have lessons available on fishing tips, bait, lures, knots, gear, boating, fish behavior, fisheries management, caring for your catch. Prizes are given away at a special fishing derby on Sunday. This camp is open to any adult/child "team". Youth campers must be at least 8 years of age.
4-H Missions in Space Camp
This three-day program is a condensed version of the week long Space Camp experience. Eighth grade 4-H members from Central Illinois travel to the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama to learn about space technology, space agriculture and living in space. They are able to experience what it is like to live and work in space though the time spent training on various simulators and through a mock Space Shuttle Mission.
High school aged 4-H members participate in a 1 ½ day event held in Springfield at the Illinois State Capitol. Youth will debate bills in the House of Representatives, select a Speaker of the House and Clerk of the House. Previous year delegates are selected for the committee to plan the following year's program.
One 4-H Teen Representative is selected from each county in the East-Central Region to be a member of this team for a two-year term. The group plans activities for teens on a regional level. Responsibilities include planning workshop days, attending face to face meetings as well as teleconferences. Contact local Extension & 4-H staff for more details.
Ultimate Project Challenge
A day-long conference for teens dealing with topics such as teamwork, leadership, and issues facing youth today. The event is planned by youth serving on the Regional Youth Leadership Team. Check website for tentative date and location.
In mid-June, the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana hosts judging contests in livestock, dairy, poultry, and horses as well as skill competitions in electricity, forestry, horticulture, and rocket launching. Dairy and livestock, quiz bowl competitions are also held. Horse bowl & hippology competitions are held in April. Winners of these events become candidates to compete in invitational judging contests as well as in national competitions. All 4-H members are eligible to participate in these competitions.
This 3-day event provides Illinois teens new opportunities to explore the University of Illinois campus; study potential careers or leadership skills; and meet youth from across the state. This special event is held in late June. Teens from across Illinois gather together to meet new friends, learn skills to take home to their local communities, recognize outstanding 4-H members, and have a great time. This convention is planned by a state committee of teens and is open to all youth in Illinois, ages 14-18.
This conference event is for junior high students in the 7th and 8th grades. The weekend is designed to challenge junior high members through hands-on workshops and speakers. Meeting new friends and having fun are also part of the conference through pool parties, games and dances. The convention is planned by the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team.
Travel to Washington, D.C. for one summer week filled with fun, new experiences, sightseeing, and learning about our nation's capitol and the governmental process. Delegates stay at the National 4-H Center. Illinois offers this trip on alternate years. CWF is open to high school teens aged 15 and above.
The Illinois 4-H program offers older 4-H members and recent 4-H alumni an opportunity to play an active part in Illinois 4-H programming as part of the State 4-H Youth Leadership Team. 4-H members and alumni, ages 16-21, are selected to assist with state 4-H events, offer teen programming suggestions and become involved in their own way on the state level.
4-H members can apply to serve as an Illinois 4-H Youth Ambassador. Ambassadors help with a variety of programming on the state level including 4-H Legislative Connection and State Fair. If interested, applications are available through the Extension office.
Hundreds of 4-H members and Illinois 4-H Ambassadors meet with legislators at the State Capitol each spring. The 4-H Legislative Connection event is scheduled to give 4-H members the chance to display their projects or activities, meet with their state government representatives and learn about the legislative process. The purpose of the event is to educate the lawmakers about the Illinois 4-H program and to give 4-H members a first-hand look at how laws are made.
Extension staff, adult volunteers and youth serve on this committee to provide advice for the non-livestock aspects of the Illinois State Fair Junior Department (4-H). This includes the areas of promotional windows, project exhibits, staff and dormitory.
Members may enter individual or group acts via video tapes to be selected to perform at the Illinois State Fair.
Oh, the places you'll go in 4-H…Nationally
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
Take your 4-H experience to another level through Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF), a six-day intensive summer citizenship program for youth age 14-19. CWF delegates learn about the democratic process and their role as citizens while they experience our nation's capital. Get the inside scoop about how government really works from prominent guest speakers. College-age program fellows lead bill writing workshops, a national issues forum and mock elections and congressional sessions that prepare you for leadership now and in the future.
A select group of 8-9 Illinois teens travel to Washington, D.C. each spring to participate in this working conference. Delegates from throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico spend time attending workshops and working on action plans for the national, state, and local levels. Some limited sightseeing is included.
The first opportunity to attend this trip is provided to the teens serving on the State 4-H Youth Leadership Team (YLT) and Illinois
4-H Foundation Board of Directors. Open spaces are filled by application to provide a diverse Illinois delegation that represents various areas of the state, 4-H access systems, ethnic groups, and male/female ratios.
The National 4-H Congress hosts over 1200 youth delegates from across the United States and its territories. Illinois youth who are State Award Winners in a specific curriculum area may attend National 4-H Congress.
Youth that have attended Congress have the opportunity to apply to serve on the National Design Team. The National Design team plans and helps coordinate National 4-H Congress.
4-H families can make reservations to stay at the National 4-H Center while visiting Reservations can be made during the busy time 2 weeks before arrival, and may make advanced reservations at other times of the year.
This four-day event showcases the dairy industry for 4-H members from across the country and Canada. The conference is held during the World Dairy Exposition in Madison, Wisconsin, in late September. Illinois delegates are selected to attend as State 4-H Award Winners in Animal Science who specialize in Dairy projects.
4-H delegates who attend are exposed to new dairy science technology and dairy-related businesses and institutions. Through a combination of workshops, speakers, educational field trips and interaction with other dairy-oriented youth, 4-H members gain information they can use to strengthen their futures in the dairy industry.
Exceptional exhibits involved in the Illinois State Fair 4-H Junior Department may be selected to participate in the Visual Arts to Washington Program. Visual arts judges nominate outstanding projects to be considered for display in the Illinois Room at the National 4-H Council in Washington DC. On the final day of the State Fair, judges select up to 12 exhibits for the year long display. Displays need to be covered in glass and able to be hung.
Oh, the places you'll go in 4-H…Internationally
IFYE Ambassador
The IFYE Ambassador program is a four to five week opportunity for young people ages 15-19 to experience living with host families in other countries. This program enables young people from around the United States to increase their global understanding and to improve their leadership and communication skills. Participants either explore the international aspects of their 4-H programs or concentrate on cultures as they live with host families and gain language ability. Available countries vary from year to year.
The IFYE Representative program is an in-depth experience for persons 19-30 years of age to live with families from countries in all areas of the world. The program is designed for 4-H alumni who are interested in an extended living experience for three or five months in the host country. It provides young adults an opportunity to learn about and participate in4-H or similar youth programs abroad, improve language skills, and develop study interests.
4-H'ers, ages 12 to 18, may participate in the outbound program for a one-month stay with a Japanese host family. A chaperon accompanies the group to and from Tokyo and is available for consultation during the stay. Application forms are available from all local 4-H offices.
One of the most exciting opportunities of Global Education programs is hosting the young adults who come to this country every year from all over the world. Most 4-H families find the experience both fun and educational. It also gives 4-H greater visibility in the community. Opportunities are available for sharing life with a Japanese child or adult, an IFYE Ambassador, an IFYE Representative or a professional staff member from another country. Urban as well as rural families are invited to host. Host family visits usually last three to four weeks. Applications are made through 4-H Youth Specialist. Inbound IFYEs visit during the months of June through December while Japanese participants visit in July and August.
The arrival is mid-July for a one-month stay. Host families wishing to participate may apply through the local 4-H office. Host families receive orientation and assistance throughout the home stay.
Illinois hosts high school students from Japan. They arrive in August, enroll in local high schools with Junior and Senior status. Families provide home stay and support for the youth. Students provide their own medical insurance, spending money for school and personal supplies.
Oh, the places your Club will go…
Recognition Opportunities for 4-H Clubs and Groups
The organized club or group is a very important part of the 4-H program. Members work and play together while developing group skills. Recognition as a club for group activities can build group unity and pride. It also encourages club program building with goals that the group can work toward. The Recognition for Excellence Program also offers award opportunities to clubs and groups for participation, progress toward goals, meeting standards of excellence, and for competition between clubs.
· Club/Group Report
Clubs can select an area to concentrate on the entire 4-H year. These areas include: Animal Science, Personal Development, Mechanics and Technology, Home and Family, Community Involvement and Global Awareness, Food, Nutrition and Health, Plants and Soils, and Environment, Natural Resources, and a special category for 4-H Focus on Character. Clubs complete an application and clubs are recognized on the county and state levels. Club patches are provided for winners.
· Club Standards of Excellence
Clubs complete 11 of the 14 standards and are recognized with a patch on the county level.
· Progress Achievement Award
Clubs set goals at the beginning of the year and share with county office. If goals are successfully met and reported, a club patch is awarded.
Club Display/Booth
Clubs may enter a Club Display at the county fair based on what club has participated in the current year. Club displays can focus on a specific program area, project or community service completed by the club as a whole.
4-H Softball
This tournament/game day is held in July and is sponsored by the Linden Lead'em 4-H Clubs. Registration information is mailed to local club leaders in the beginning of June. Each club can enter a junior and a senior team.
4-H Lympics
Clubs may enter a team to participate in 4-H Lympics during the county fair. Clubs will participate in a variety of relay races against other clubs. Only 20 teams are accepted. Prizes are awarded. Registration information is mailed to local club leaders in the beginning of June.
4-H Promotion Challenge
Clubs are challenged to promote 4-H during National 4-H week. Any idea will do, as long as you report it to the Extension office!!
Oh, the places you'll go…as a Volunteer!
North Central Regional 4-H Leaders Forum
An enterprising volunteer with a positive attitude, optimistic outlook and determination can do great things and affect many people. This conference will spark your creativity, boost your confidence and energize you to be an even better volunteer than you already are.
Adult and teen volunteers, experience educational sessions related to youth development and working with adults. Participate in social events. Listen to motivational speakers. Take part in a tour and meet many new people.
4-H Volunteer Update
Volunteer update meetings are held throughout the year at the county level including such topics as Record Keeping, New Projects, Working with Junior Leaders, Making Meetings Fun, Field Trip Ideas, Community Service, Working with Project Leaders, etc. Topics are chosen each year to meet current needs of county volunteer leaders.
Chaperones
All adults are invited to help chaperone and participate events at any functions! 4-H is a family affair! We appreciate parents and leaders support to make the program successful!
Assist in judging Illinois 4-H Award Applications and County 4-H Record Judging
Want to learn more about County and State Award applications? Don't feel that you understand what types of things should be listed in categories? By assisting with record judging, you will learn a lot and gain a new understanding of award applications! This will also help you bring ideas back to your own 4-H club and/or county to prepare great award applications! You don't need to be an experienced person with record applications to volunteer! Volunteers are asked to not have any personal ties with applications they are judging.
Mentor Leaders
The Mentor Leader program is designed to help new or inexperienced leaders to be successful! Mentor Leaders will complete training and be given materials to work with new leader and to provide guidance with club programming. If interested in serving as a Mentor contact the Extension office!
Committees
All adults and youth are welcome to serve on a variety of county committees that coordinate programs and/or activities for the county 4-H program. If interested in helping, please contact the Extension office.
Fair Volunteer Opportunities
There are many volunteer opportunities at fair time! From serving as a secretary for a judge, as a superintendent, helping with any fair activities! Check with a 4-H leader or the Extension office for more information!
Club Project/Activity Leaders
Any adult may volunteer to help at the local club level. Contact your 4-H organizational leader to see how you can help! Volunteers may need to participate in a screening process.
Timeless Clovers 4-H Alumni Association
Open to any supporter of the McLean County 4-H program – including parents, alumni, leaders and volunteers. The group supports members who may need financial assistance for regional, state our county activities. The group also sponsors activities at the fair.
